Call for flood-relief donations

PHUKET TOWN: The Phuket Provincial Public Welfare Office (PPWO) today urged the public to donate water, food, clothing and cash for the thousands of people left homeless by the recent floods in northern Thailand and Isarn. Worst hit in the floods were seven villages in Phetchabun province’s Lom Sak district. Agence France Presse reported this afternoon that 90 corpses have been found so far, while another 31 people are missing, presumed dead, after flash floods and mud slides obliterated seven villages just before dawn on Saturday. AFP added that Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra had said the cabinet would map out decisive short-term and long-term measures to avert flash floods and landslides, and introduce a sophisticated early warning system in high-risk regions. “My government will quickly solve this problem and never allow such a disaster to recur,” AFP quoted the PM as saying. In Phuket, Pimpa Kohsarntivichai, deputy chief of the PPWO, said, “What the victims urgently need are drinking water and canned food. This is crucial.” She stressed that all donations will reach the victims. “Each person who donates money will be given a receipt, a copy of which will be passed to the Governor’s office,” K. Pimpa said. She added that all cash donations will go to the King’s Foundation. Non-cash donations will be taken by road to Bangkok, from where the Ministry of the Interior will distribute them to those in need. Donations can be made at the PPWO offices on the first floor of the Phuket Provincial Office on Narisorn Rd between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm, Mondays to Fridays. For more information call the PPWO at 076-212726 or 076-240414.